Hyperspace for dummies

[Hans Rancke-Madsen]

Originally Posted by ak_aramis

Jump Dimming in CT and MT was explained: The initiation energy for jump engine function was at the very limits of the PP to produce, and all energy was needed for jump transition.

Mind you, the "explanation" requires us to believe that every single one of those old-time Vilani ship designers were absolute morons.

I've always gone with the idea that the explanation is folk mythology. The true reason? I've no idea.

Jump Dimming: The practice, followed by some starship pilots, of dimming the ship's interior and exterior lights before going into jump. Lights on a ship are typically dimmed for a period of about two minutes; the lights are brought back up to full strength as soon as the ship is in jumpspace.

According to an old Vilani superstition, this custom arose out of the need for most of the ship's power to be diverted into the computer and jump-drive systems, so that the jump drive could be guided into creating the jump field properly, something that has never actually been necessary and would have taken more than two minutes if it had. Non-Vilani pilots do not follow this tradition.

The above is from an article about various myths and legends of the 3rd Imperium that I'm working on.


Hans